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Android in the Rugged Enterprise

Mobility platforms in the enterprise space are currently undergoing
a major transition for a number of reasons. For example, Microsoft has
announced end of support dates within only a couple of years for mobile
computer operating systems such as Windows CE, WM, Embedded Hand Held and
Windows 10 IoT. Once these dates are reached, existing devices with these
operating systems will not receive patches/security updates from Microsoft and
extended support for existing devices will be left to the manufacturers. As a
result, manufacturers are forced to release product with operating systems that
will be supported long term.

This transition is having a wide impact in the enterprise
space. Areas of the business such as distribution and transportation require
robust devices that can survive harsh environments. To date this space has
predominantly leveraged mobile Windows based handheld computers with physical
keypads, running traditional green screen telnet emulation. Many host systems
in place are legacy systems that still utilize telnet emulation interfaces to
users that are handling material. Businesses are now looking for devices that
will support the physical demands of the enterprise and interface requirements
of legacy systems and allow for an easy migration to newer host systems in the
future. They are also looking for mobile computers that are capable of
providing long-term support from an operating system and network
security
perspective.

Over recent years, the consumer market has exploded with the
ever-increasing adoption of the Android operating system on smartphones.
Consumers and mobile device manufacturers alike have been drawn to its open architecture
and the widespread availability of applications that can be downloaded from the
Google Play website. These reasons have prompted manufacturers of legacy
Windows-based devices to simultaneously pursue and release Android-based
devices to service the industry moving forward. This includes rugged device
manufacturers whose customer base lies solely in industrial, field service, and
enterprise business environments.

At first, transitioning from a Windows-based device to an
Android based device in these extreme spaces presented challenges to organizations
that were accustomed to a certain level of mobile device durability,
reliability, and performance – primarily because the early Android devices were
designed for consumer applications, not business applications. Consumer grade
devices seldom survive typical use in the supply chain. They are not built to
withstand the daily rigors of activity in concrete floor workspaces and break
more easily when dropped.

Consumer devices often fail in cold storage environments
where gloves are required, outdoor areas, and in inclement weather where snow,
ice and rain are present. Most Android devices do not offer a physical keypad.
The screens are often small. Use of gloved hands in extreme environments is
problematic because the virtual keys need to be so large they take up too much
screen real-estate. The displays in these devices are not meant to support use
when constantly moving between freezer and refrigerated spaces to ambient room
temperatures, so they tend to fog up. When condensation or rain hits the screen
of a consumer-grade device, it tends to not work properly, seemingly taking on
a mind of its own. In addition, most handheld Android devices do not support
hot swappable batteries, requiring the user to stop using them to plug in and
recharge them before continuing their work.

Things are changing, though. Rugged mobile computer
manufacturers are delivering devices that are purpose-built for these extreme
use cases, enabling organizations to take advantage of the many benefits that
an Android-based device offers their business.

One such device emerging in the market comes from Xplore
Technologies, long-time makers of ruggedized tablets. The new
M60 Rugged Android handheld computer will hold up to the rigors of usage in extreme
environments both indoors and outdoors. It is packed with features including
802.11ac, Bluetooth, NFC, LTE data and voice and an 8200mAh user replaceable
battery for long usage between charges. The device is a light (0.8 lb / 369 g),
pocket-sized form factor with a bright display that is ideal for both indoor
and outdoor use. It also supports bare finger, gloved and wet touch interaction
for fast data inputs in any working environment, even inclement weather. An
assortment of vehicle, desktop and multi-bay charging options round it out.

By leveraging a truly rugged Android device such as the new
Xplore M60 in their warehouses, enterprises will gain a number of immediate and
long-term benefits not offered by consumer-grade devices. For example, there
will be a shorter learning curve for the enterprise-grade handheld computers
among part-time or seasonal workers since many will already be proficient with
gesturing, pinch and zoom, scrolling operations and the look and feel of their
own personal Android mobile devices. Truly rugged devices are often easier to
update regarding operating systems and security patches since they run the
professional-grade
Android for Work software versus the Android OS versions loaded onto consumer
devices. Rugged handhelds such as the Xplore M60 are usually better equipped
with multiple wireless technologies to facilitate reliable network connections
for workers in both traditional office environments, as well as in the field
where signals are not always strong. As
such, workers are able to not only capture data in a WiFi environment but also
leverage data and voice in the field when augmenting transportation, delivery
and logistics operations.

With that being said, enterprises are not only
challenged to decide between a consumer-grade or truly rugged mobile device.
They must also choose the appropriate device form factor. Some material
handling activity is better suited for the use of a handheld form factor versus
a larger tablet or 2-in-1 laptop option. They must also decide whether their devices
should have a built-in barcode scanner so that workers do not have to rely upon
camera conversion of images to barcodes – and to ensure snappy scanning in
fast-paced operating environments where workers are expected to input and
verify information quickly when conducting inventory and equipment management,
quality control, or shipping and receiving activities.

The good news is that, if you decide that
Android is the right OS for your organization long-term, there are a growing
number of viable options available. Device manufacturers such as Xplore are
finding ways to address the diverse mobile computing requirements of the
enterprise sector. Extremely rugged handhelds such as the
Xplore M60 are being
designed specifically to suit the computing needs of materials handlers and
other workers that don’t require a larger tablet or laptop to do their jobs,
while rugged Android tablets and hybrid 2-in-1 mobile computers are being
engineered to support the more data-intensive demands of supervisors and others
who split time between the office and shop floor or field and require the full
computing experience at all times. This approach is providing flexibility to
the mobile workforce, ensuring that each worker has the right technology tools
for his or her job, without force-fitting the same mobile device form factor
and performance features on all workers. The introduction of devices such as
the Xplore M60 also demonstrate rugged computer manufacturers’ long-term support
of the Android operating system platform in enterprise environments. With all
of the changes the industry is making, it will be interesting to see where we
are in a few years.

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